What about the ICDL (International Computer Drivers License) which 
describes itself as "the world wide standard for computer literacy"? 
Our WIB has funding to offer training for it locally, and our Computer 
Learning Center which is administered in partnership with the 
CareerLink offers free classes to prepare for it.

To learn more about the ICDL, just google it.

Karen Mundie
Greater Pittsburgh Literacy Council


On Sunday, May 23, 2004, at 01:31 PM, David Rosen wrote:


> To Larry Condelli:

>

> Sandy Strunk posted a message to the NIFL-PLI list  on May 10, 2004 

> from Larry Condelli, Managing Director in the Education and Human 

> Development Division of the American Institues for Research, leader of 

> the adult education team, and project director for the National 

> Reporting System,  in which Larry  asks:

>

> 	"What data do you need that NRS does not collect?"

>

> The context of this and other questions in that message was using data 

> for program improvement.

>

> I have recently been asked by a practitioner -- and not for the first 

> time -- if there are valid and reliable assessments for measuring 

> computer literacy -- that is,  basic computer competence and comfort.  

> These are skills needed to use computer-assisted instruction, to word 

> process writing and to search for information on a CD or on the Web.

>

> My understanding -- Larry please correct me I am wrong -- is that 

> computer literacy is not an area which is ow measured through the NRS. 

>  If it were, I am not sure we have valid, reliable, standardized 

> assessments.  Do we?

>

> Yet, I would argue that these skills are now as important to adult 

> learners as reading, writing and numeracy.  They are required for many 

> jobs, and for participation in computer-based distance learning. Many 

> programs offer these skills because students have asked to learn them. 

>  Programs, students, and employers wonder how programs are doing in 

> helping students learn these skills.

>

> Can the NRS include these skills?

>

> David J. Rosen

> djrosen at comcast.net

>

>

> On Monday, May 10, 2004, at 10:59  AM, Sandy Strunk wrote:

>

>>

>> What data do you need that NRS does not collect?

>

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